480 - - Episode 478 Marie, Calm Down

"ugh ...... ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh ...... I can't get over it!　That's fantastic!　Hey Sonia!　I know you would agree with me!　The faces of the old wealthy merchants who monopolized the interests of King's Landing, and the greedy aristocrats who were quick to use their power to extort money and goods from me, flattering me while hiding their regret!　Very much!　Very much!　Very!　That was brilliant!　Ha-ha-ha-ha!"

What a wonderful, rejuvenating weed!

The dragon materials, magic grass, all-powerful grass, and divine power grass that Yuta-san supplies us with wholesale can be said to be military supplies, so if we monopolize them or sell them sparingly, it would give the greedy nobles and merchants an opening.

Therefore, it was necessary to act prudently. Nevertheless, they were able to increase their contacts with the state and the nobles, and they were able to make some inroads into the interests of the royal city, which was still firmly in their grasp.

But the rejuvenating grass would have a far greater effect. Since it is not directly related to the military, it would be hard to make a problem even if they regret selling it to His Majesty or the high nobles if we take measures against them.

So you have to get it even if you have to flatter a little girl like me. It's a must for their social status and to keep them in good humor. I can't stop laughing!

"Marie. I know what you're thinking, but it's time to calm down. It's been five days since the party, remember?"

"...... Sonia, you're not going to convince me with a grin on your face, are you?"

You're looking very bad, my childhood friend.

"Yeah?　Uh, is it because I remembered what happened yesterday?　I'll have to switch things up, too."

Yesterday, you must have been remembering that lowlife merchant. The first time we met, he was a lowlife who thought we were little girls and demanded our bodies.

When we refused, he tried to take away the materials that Yuta-san would sell to us wholesale, and harassed us in various ways that annoyed us. He was also connected to the high nobility, so we couldn't fight back carelessly, and it made it hard for us.

But after Yuta's ability was revealed to the higher-ups of the country and His Majesty's government issued a notice to him, he was cut off by the upper class nobles who were connected to him and he became a failure.

So, yesterday, he was bowing desperately to the little girl who harassed him to take advantage of the rejuvenating grass ..........

Phew...... just remembering that face makes me feel better, but Sonia's right, I need to calm down.

I'm sure that this time we have a better chance to do business in King's Landing, but we are still the newcomers in King's Landing. We have to keep our heads up.

**

"Urgent report from the Labyrinth City?　I need you to let me through right away.

What's going on in the Labyrinth City?　It's hard to imagine that there would be any major problems in a labyrinthine city today. ...... You don't think something happened to your father, do you?

Sonia brought me an employee of the general store that I run.

Joseph, what happened?

I was a little relieved because if something had happened to my father, an employee from the main office would have been dispatched, but the exhausted look on his face made me feel bad. What happened to the store?

"Yuta-sama came to the store."

"Yuta-san?　It seems out of time for you to be in Labyrinth City, but did you have a difficult request?"

If that's the case, then the urgent report makes sense. Mr. Yuta is the store's, or rather, the Pollius Chamber of Commerce's, top priority customer. We need to do everything we can, even if it's just a little thing.

"No, it's not a request. ......"

Joseph chokes up, as if he is having a hard time saying what he wants to say. It's ironic that this is the only time I'm sure of a troublesome situation, since I'm so confident about the training of my employees.

"Yuta-san is a top priority for the Chamber of Commerce. Tell us the details!

Yes, yes!　Mr. Yuta wandered into the store and left a message for the manager. I am happy to hear that you are very active in King's Landing, but I am a little displeased that you are taking advantage of me instead of my products. I am considering what I should do about the future provision of materials and the money I have invested in the company. I am not sure what to do with the money I have invested.

"......?　Again, please."

"I am glad to see that you are doing so well in King's Landing, but I am a little uncomfortable with the way you are taking advantage of me instead of my products. I am considering what I should do about the future provision of materials and the money I have invested in the company. That's what I'm talking about!

I guess I didn't mishear.

"......Do, do, do, do, Sonia!　Yuyuyu Yuta-san, Yuta-san has to go back to the ......, labyrinth city. ......"

"Marie, calm down. Joseph, anything else?"

Calm down?　How can you be calm in this situation?　If Yuta cuts you off, the Polurius Chamber of Commerce itself will be in danger.

No, it's not. It's precisely at a time like this that you can't show your ugly face in front of your subordinates as a manager. I have to force myself to act calm.

"He left saying that he'd like to have a meeting with us next time he visits the store. He said that he had not yet decided when the next time would be and that he would contact me again when he comes to the labyrinth city."

Does that mean you have already left the labyrinth city?　You can't even apologize if you leave. The mask of calm is about to come off.

Who received the message?

Sonia's going to get us going. That's my childhood friend. I can count on you. We need to put our masks back on while we still can.

"I received it, reported it to the chairman, and then went straight here."　

"How did you feel at that time?　Please tell us if he was angry, grumpy, or anything else. I need information.

"It was normal. He looked the same as usual, just left a message and went home."

"I see. Okay. Marie, is there anything else you want to ask me?

What you want to ask?　It's good information that he was normal and not angry. ...... No, Yuta is not the type to show his anger on his face. No, I can't think straight. First, I need to reorganize the information.

I can't think of anything right now. Joseph, thank you. I'll call you when I have more questions, but for now you need to rest.

Now, if you'll excuse me. If you need anything at all, please do not hesitate to call me.

"Sonia!　Oh, my God!"

The moment Joseph stepped out of the room, the mask of calm he had been forced to wear was blown off.

"I don't understand!"

Sonia's face, which had appeared calm, turned pale. Sonia must have had her hands full. I am the manager and I have to be firm and not take advantage of Sonia.

"...... First of all, Yuta's words, you are displeased that I took advantage of you, aren't you?　Which use?　I don't know what I did wrong, because I am aware that I have taken full advantage of you before. You know that we are taking advantage of you, don't you?"

"Considering what Mr. Yuta said, it is very likely that his behavior in King's Landing made Mr. Yuta uncomfortable."

Behavior in King's Landing: .......

"In the first place, how did Yuta-san know about our activities in King's Landing?　I wonder if he was in King's Landing?"

"Yuta-san is the center of attention in King's Landing. If he were here, someone would notice him.

Of course. If you were here normally, someone would notice. The country's top brass is really paying attention.

"Besides, there are so many things we don't know about Yuta's ability that it's useless to think too much about it. We should think about the cause of our displeasure first."

"Is it because ...... I bragged about how good the adventurers in our trading company are?"

Yuta-san is not an adventurer exclusive to the Pollius Chamber of Commerce, so there is a possibility that he might be considered unpleasant.

"Marie, Yuta is crazy about me!　And I think it was wrong of him to brag about it.　Also, Rejuvenation Grass came looking for me because Yuta-san wants me to stay beautiful forever!　You also said that, didn't you?"

That was a little over the top. But the nobles and the Chamber of Commerce were about to send their daughters, so I needed to keep them in check.

"Even Sonia said something about the passion in Yuta-sama's eyes when he looked at his daughter."

"If Marie had dropped Yuta, she wouldn't have had to tell a lie."

Sonia looks at me as if to say, "Good grief!" ......It's kind of ticking me off. .......

"...... are you saying that it's my fault that I'm not attractive?　Sonia was also being treated like a fool for meddling in so many ways. Sneaking up on her to surprise her?　You're not a child, you should think a little more about how you're going to do it."

"Even Marie, you dressed up in your best clothes and invited me to dinner, but you came back without incident. She's not attractive enough!

"It was Sonia who dressed you up. Sonia has bad taste!"

..................

"......Let's stop the sterile bickering. Now is not the time for this."

We don't have time for this kind of back-and-forth. I don't forgive you for being so stingy with my charms, but we have to survive as a trading company first.

"Yes, that's right. I know I'm a bit emotional, but this is not the time for this.

"Hey, Sonia. As we were arguing, I was thinking that there are so many things that Yuta might be uncomfortable with that I don't know which ones you're talking about.

"I can't deny it. Even if it was to emphasize her relationship with Yuta, it might have been a little too much.

No matter how deep Yuta-san's bosom is, he would be very angry if he was made out to be an adventurer with a crush on a merchant's daughter without permission.

"...... I guess all I can do now is just apologize to him."

"I feel like the only way is to just apologize. If Marie and I were to offer our bodies to each other, I can only see a future of rejection.

It saddens me as a woman that I can't deny it. I don't think there is anything wrong with our relationship, but looking back, I feel like I've been looked at like a sorry person.

When we meet, let's really apologize. The future of the Polurius Chamber of Commerce is at stake, so let's apologize with all our might, without shame or shame."

If push comes to shove, I'll lick your shoes. We can't put our employees out on the street. .......

**An incident at an inn***.

"Hey, where do you think you're going on such a busy day?"

"Sorry, Martha. I have to go. You take care of it!"

"Don't be stupid. The rooms are full, the private rooms are booked solid, and the expanded cafeteria is thriving. There's not a bit of free time left for you. Work hard!"

"It's an unknown dish. I have to know what curry is!

"Yes, yes, when I have time. The rumored diner is Gina's parents' house, so if Yuta comes to stay, he can tell us about it.

It's too late for that. I need to know now.

Don't be selfish, go to work!

"Yes!"